About Us

The Old Colorado Inn is comprised of several historic properties located in Downtown Stuart, FL. The inn itself was originally built in 1914 as the Coventry Hotel and was restored by the current owners, the Vitale family, in 2011. The Ernest Lyons House was built in 1890 and served as the town's first schoolhouse. It then became home of the renowned Floridian author Ernest Lyons for over 50 years, for which it is now designated as a National Literary Landmark. The Owl House River Retreat is an historic riverfront home originally constructed in 1904. It features an unusual four-pointed gable roof resembling an owl's head. The Blue House is a 1914 Sears and Roebuck kit home and is a prime example of a classic Florida cracker house. And, finally, the Clifton Guest & Fishing Lodge was built in 1915 by well-known architect Sam Matthews and once housed Ralph Evinrude, chairman of the Outboard Marine Corporation, and his wife, the Golden Age Hollywood starlet Frances Langford.

Steven and Ashley Vitale have been Florida residents for over 30 years. They are blessed with seven children, all raised here in Stuart. The Old Colorado Inn is truly a family business. Steven and Ashley's oldest son Christopher works as a hotel manager, and many of the children grew up helping at the hotel alongside their parents. The Vitale family is passionate about maintaining the historic charm and beauty of Downtown Stuart and was even able to save two historic houses from destruction and relocate them to the property. For his tireless efforts to preserve the history and character of Stuart, Steven was awarded as Preservationist of the Year in 2019 by the Martin County Historic Preservation Board. We look forward to having you stay with us!

About the Old Colorado Inn and Your Hosts

A Brief History of the Old Colorado Inn

About Your Hosts